Letters -- Published Jan. 8, 2013

I read Mike Fitzgerald's Dec. 28 column, "Deck the Hall," with great interest because it shows that with community effort, we can not only improve Stockton's image, but also improve the city itself.

I read Mike Fitzgerald's Dec. 28 column, "Deck the Hall," with great interest because it shows that with community effort, we can not only improve Stockton's image, but also improve the city itself.

I was particularly happy to see that we have an organization in town that has as its main objective accomplishing these very goals.

I congratulate Stockton Forward on taking the lead but for them to do this, they need to get everyone in Stockton behind this grass-roots program.

Mel Corren

Stockton

I thoroughly oppose Sen. Diane Feinstein's introduction of any bill to ban guns in the United States. I suppose at least one time in her career she read the Constitution. The Second Amendment and the other original rights are inalienable, which means Feinstein and her cohorts may not ever change them!

Instead she needs to address the mentally ill who have flooded our streets with unspeakable crimes and problems! Would it not be far cheaper to keep these mentally incompetent individuals housed and cared for rather than roaming the streets drugged or drunk wanting to do harm?

Why is it that there are no mass killings at gun shows and armories? Bad people that get their hands on weapons illegally do great harm. Good people with guns protect others and stop these murderers! Not one weapon has ever self-fired to kill a person without some human intervention!

As a self-imposed elite member of our nation Feinstein has no extra authority to impose her illogical will upon us. I have no less a right to protect my family and home than she does. The fact that a citizen is "packing" a weapon for personal security is a right.

We should not impose restrictions upon other Americans of equal value to our nation. When we no longer have our Second Amendment as Feinstein and others in the Democrat Party desire, we will see that party as the ruling party of a dictatorship. History has proved it too many times.

Steve Spatola

Stockton

Your Dec. 27 article, "Dangerous precedent?" showed a picture of the beautiful Yosemite Valley in winter. This is a view I have experienced many times, but your article had literally nothing to do with that view.

The Record is so far from "fair and balanced" that the paper is becoming almost laughable if the media were not such a powerful propaganda force for so-called progressives in this country. Remember the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words. Needless to say, you led off the story with a picture to either create a panic among those of us who care about the environment or you were just too lazy to show a picture of the real area this beneficial project would affect.

The power of the press must be used fairly and truthfully. Stop trying to deceive the masses with "Obama-esque" lies, and put the truth first. In other words, think twice before printing once, unless of course, your goal is truly deception and scare tactic politics. The paper is getting too obvious about its political positions.

David Atwater

Stockton

» NOTE: Our Dec. 27 story concerned a bill by Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, adjusting the Wild and Scenic River boundary on the Merced River, which flows through Yosemite Valley. The change would allow the Merced Irrigation District to raise the level of McClure Lake Reservoir on the river downstream from the valley. The concern of some is that if passed the legislation would set a precedent for changing boundaries on other designated wild and scenic rivers.